Venous occlusion plethysmography in patients with cold related symptoms after digital salvage procedures

Fourteen patients who had undergone microsurgical salvage of one or more digits were interviewed and examined. An assessment of sensitivity to cold is defined as cold intolerance and correlated with nerve function and arterial inflow measured by venous occlusion plethysmography. No relationship between arterial inflow and cold intolerance nor nerve function was found. There was, however a tendency for worsening cold intolerance to be associated with poorer nerve function. Half the salvaged digits had arterial inflow greater than the contralateral control digit.